crushing cans

culpepper

our council have just started collecting tins for recycling.
I looked for a can crusher a couple of weeks ago with no luck.
then yersterday it dawned on me,I didnt need one anyway.
All I needed was to cut the bottom off the can as well as the top and I could stand on the cylinder which instantly becomes a flat rectangle.
Problem solved.
Hope someone else finds that useful.

perfectlypoor

Just be extra careful i remember cutting my finger on a tin can...it was not nice, lol

culpepper

Yes its true they can be sharp. I use a tin opener that takes the lid off in a circle leaving the body of the can with the rim still intact. So I end up with two sharp circles instead of one and a blunt edged cyclinder.
It works for the big cans too that you can buy tuna and fruit in.

geordie_joe

culpepper wrote: »

Yes its true they can be sharp. I use a tin opener that takes the lid off in a circle leaving the body of the can with the rim still intact. So I end up with two sharp circles instead of one and a blunt edged cyclinder.
It works for the big cans too that you can buy tuna and fruit in.

Just a thought, when I open cans I don't take the lid off fully, I leave about 1/4" connected and prise the lid open. When I've emptied the contents I push the lid back inside the can.

I do this because we don't have bins, our rubbish goes in black bags and I don't want any sharp edges sticking out.

It occurred to me that if you did this at both ends you could still crush the can but the lids would be inside the can.

jrrowleyws

Usually a good stamping flattens a can rather successfully!

antenna

geordie_joe wrote: »

Just a thought, when I open cans I don't take the lid off fully, I leave about 1/4" connected and prise the lid open. When I've emptied the contents I push the lid back inside the can.

I do this because we don't have bins, our rubbish goes in black bags and I don't want any sharp edges sticking out.

It occurred to me that if you did this at both ends you could still crush the can but the lids would be inside the can.

It also has the bonus that you can trap 2 cats heads in the can at the same time

hardpressed

I have a can opener that doesn't leave a sharp edge on the can or the lid, best gadget I ever bought.

Geeni

The WWF online shop have a sturdy looking can crusher on offer this week (down from £16.95 to £11.95) and, of course, it's supporting an excellent cause.

Not sure whether this link will work, but here goes: http://shop.wwf.org.uk/Detail.aspx?id=072038

QuickKeith

I know this sounds like I'm a penny pincher but you should look at keeping your Aluminum cans (drinking cans, aerosol can, etc.) on one side and once you have a collection take them down to your local scrap dealer and get paid for your rubbish/scrap.

This after all is what your council does and gets paid twice for collecting your rubbish once off you (council tax) and again off the scrap yard.

Lotus-eater

jrrowleyws wrote: »

Usually a good stamping flattens a can rather successfully!

Just about to say that, big boots and save money on a can crusher.

LittleBrownFrog

But .. if you do want a can crusher, I can recommend the Lakeland one - ours has been going for a long while now, and works really well.